EY growth faster in Scotland than in UK as a whole

ERNST & Young raised its revenues in Scotland by five per cent in the year to June 30 – nearly double the 2.7% rate of increase achieved by the accountancy firm across the UK as a whole.

Mark Harvey, EY senior partner for Scotland, noted that EY’s practice in Scotland had now recorded 10 consecutive years of growth.

EY’s UK fee income rose to £2.41 billion in the year to June 30, from £2.35bn in the prior 12 months. It did not publish the revenue figure for Scotland.

The firm, which employs around 1,000 people north of the Border, noted it had now increased its number of technology specialists in Scotland to 100. It hired 67 university graduates and recruited 16 school-leavers on its business apprenticeship programme in the year to June.

EY noted it had grown its business to more than 14,500 people across 23 offices in the UK. More than 4,500 people were promoted by EY in the UK as a whole during the year to June 30, including 15% of the accountancy firm’s workforce in Scotland.

Mr Harvey highlighted EY’s work in Scotland on “high-profile deals” such as the disposals of Simon Howie’s Mermaid Panels and Shore Laminates to Wilsonart, the sale of rail maintenance business QTS Group to Renew and the acquisition of ESCO by Weir Group.

He said: “Our practice in Scotland has recorded yet another year of growth, and this is largely due to our continued investment in our people who live in Scotland and work with Scottish clients…In Scotland our current partner group has 41% female representation and includes those from industry or with international experience, all of which brings valuable and varied insight.”